Local News

SANTA FE — Immigrant rights groups chanted “Jesus was an immigrant” under the office of Gov. Susana Martinez Tuesday morning as lawmakers were returning to Santa Fe for a special session that will include a proposed repeal of a law that lets illegal immigrants get New Mexico driver’s licenses.

MONUMENT VALLEY, Utah — The stretch of high desert on the Arizona-Utah border gives way to towering rock formations that resemble huge mittens, chimney spires and castles. But to the west of Monument Valley lies a reminder of what has been blamed for much heartache and tragedy in Elsie Mae Begay’s family: A mesa stained with a gray streak where uranium was mined decades ago.

AUSTIN, Texas — More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 57 wildfires across rain-starved Texas, most of them in one devastating blaze close to Austin that is still raging out of control, officials said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference near one of the fire-ravaged areas, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said more than 100,000 acres have burned in the drought-stricken state.

SANTA FE — Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and Democrats in the Legislature find themselves on a collision course as they head into a special session to deal with the politically tricky assignment of redistricting.

The Legislature convenes Tuesday, but Martinez has Democrats grumbling because she wants lawmakers to consider a wide range of proposals in addition to the once-a-decade job of redistricting.